I don't get sale patterns sometimes - #/50 auto is more than #/25 auto

[MansGame]

I'll just use Albert Belle 2014 Stadium Club "SP" Auto's as an example which just came out. There is a #/50 version and a #/25 version. I have the #/25 version but have not been able to get the #/50 version because sales are higher than what I paid for the #/25?!

Here is the pattern by chronological order:

Oct. 2 - #/50 sells for $58
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Topps-...1439180117?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item2596866555

Oct. 3 - #/50 sells for $21
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Topps-...1540897627?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item4add54bb5b

Oct. 5 - #/25 sells for $30
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Topps-...1336472439?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item4d25315777

*Oct. 5 - #/25 sells for $20
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Topps-...1070400395?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item541179138b

Oct. 5 - #/50 sells for $20
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Topps-...1666573902?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item3a987f2a4e

Oct. 8 - #/50 sells for $26
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Topps-...1541845131?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item4add63308b

Oct. 9 - #/25 sells for $39
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Topps-...1349708365?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item35dd84664d

Oct. 22 - #/50 sells for $34
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Topps-...Autographed_Trading_Cards&hash=item2ed85d947a

So in summary I was able to purchase the #/25 with the * for basically $20 but since then not only has a #/50 sold for 2x (or more) than what I got the #/25 for but then I see #/25 ones go for 2x that as well! Just nuts. I can't seem to get the pattern down or understand who the hell is buying them at these random prices or bidding them up above what previous sales went for, etc.

I also understand that I should have gone after the #/50 that sold the same day for $20 but I figured I'd wait because prices would come down :lol:

Anyways, thought I'd see if anyone else experiences this type of random patterns for sales

 

[maxe0213]

I see the most recents as being a /50 selling for 34, 26, and 20 and a /25 selling for 39, 20 and 30.

Seems about the same. Many times parallels for off brand sets or sets other than color (topps chrome, bowman chrome etc) will sell for similar numbers unless one is a 1/1.


Seems like the typical distribution.

 

[predatorkj]

I see it all the time but it really just depends on who needs it and how quickly(read that as overpaying) they want to get it. If Bagwell is in a product, a few of us seem split about what we go after first. And the bigger fish fight harder and if two of them are after the same card, it'll go incredibly higher than others they aren't after, numbering be damned.

 

[smapdi]

There just isn't a straight line between print runs in every case, especially in that range, and you have to look at all factors. Is the checklist the same between the 25s and 50s? Is there some striking design difference? Is #/50 the most common tier, or is #/25 not the least common? The biggest factor is if people are building the set. Maybe they don't want to take on a #/25 set because of the high likelihood of never completing it, but 50s are a lot easier. And if there are tiers like 25/50/100, then you can be surprised that #/100s sell for almost as much as the #/50s because people mostly either want the easiest tier or top tier, the the middle is just kind of blah.

 

[gamecockfanatic]

There just isn't a straight line between print runs in every case, especially in that range, and you have to look at all factors. Is the checklist the same between the 25s and 50s? Is there some striking design difference? Is #/50 the most common tier, or is #/25 not the least common? The biggest factor is if people are building the set. Maybe they don't want to take on a #/25 set because of the high likelihood of never completing it, but 50s are a lot easier. And if there are tiers like 25/50/100, then you can be surprised that #/100s sell for almost as much as the #/50s because people mostly either want the easiest tier or top tier, the the middle is just kind of blah.

thanks - you saved me an extra 60 seconds of typing ...

 

[Dilferules]

I think how attractive the card is is something that's often overlooked. In this particular set the /25 autos have the name bar in flat gold with flat gold foil stamping. The /50's look way cooler with a black name bar with holographic silver foil stamping. If I was just looking to buy one version it'd definitely be the /50.